RYAN Peniston will face top seed Casper Ruud in the first round of the cinch Championships at Queen’s.

Peniston, a former Southend High School pupil, has been handed a wildcard for the ATP 500 event in West London.

But he has been handed the toughest possible opener against the current world number six.

Ruud was beaten by Rafal Nadal in the final of the French Open earlier this month.